Category Archives: Money-making ideas/ Career

Our post from earlier this week focused on apps that can help you save money during your holiday shopping this year. Many of them allow you to browse coupons, compare prices, and ensure you are getting the best deal possible all while on the go. I also wanted to introduce you to some of my favorite apps that can help earn you extra cash during this holiday season.

Jingit- Jingit is a website that offers several different ways to earn. You can earn cash directly from the website or partner websites by watching ads. Download the app and you can earn while you are out shopping. Use the app to plan your shopping trip and look for products that you may be purchasing. Reserve offers available for items you plan on purchasing. You can also earn cash by snapping a picture of your receipt and uploading it. Using the app to check-in while at your favorites stores and scan barcodes on participating items can also earn you cash. Once you earn points, the points are added to your JingIt Visa Debit Card to be redeemed anywhere Visa is accepted.

Shopkick- This shopping app is like the foursquare of shopping, offering reward points for checking in when you are at your favorite stores. Sometimes you can earn reward points for scanning items in stores. The app uses your GPS location to know what store you are shopping in and then offers coupons which can save you money while shopping too. Reward points can be redeemed for a wide variety of gift cards for your favorite stores.

Gigwalk-Gigwalk basically offers tasks that you can accept and get paid to complete. Many of these tasks are things you can do while you are out holiday shopping. Taking pictures of products, reviewing restaurants, or verifying location of a business are all types of task you might come across. Payment is made through Paypal.

Field Agent-This app turns you into a type of mystery shopper. Many of the assignments offered through the app are at your favorite stores where you may be during your holiday shopping. Many of the jobs require you to go to a specific store, take pictures of a specific display in the store, and answer some brief questions about the display. Search through the assignments before heading out and you may find some you can complete during your shopping trip. Payment is made through Paypal.

Checkpoints- Log into your Checkpoint App when you visit a store. The app will show you participating items in that specific store that can be scanned to earn reward points. Over 2 million store locations are in the app making it an easy way to earn some extra cash while out shopping. Reward points can be redeemed for a variety pf prizes or gift cards.

There is nothing new under the sun, or is there? The word “innovation” is probably a term you have heard more and more over recent years. It is a simple concept really, meaning to introduce something or it can refer to a new idea, method or device. So why all the fuss over a big word that basically means a new idea? Because this simple concept can mean big changes for your business.

Many times businesses get stuck in a rut, doing the same things the same way just because that is how it has always been done. To some people, change is scary but innovation does not mean you have to make drastic over-night alterations to your company. First, start simple by going over rules and procedures and see what adjustments can be made there. Think about if these procedures are really the best and most productive way of doing things still. Secondly, involve other people, the employees, in the innovation process. If employees know that a business is open to new ideas and willing to listen to them then they may come up with some innovative ideas that you may not think of on your own. Plus if a business is run by ideas developed by the employees themselves, your workforce is going to be very motivated and involved in the company. Thirdly, business owners and management should make sure they keep an open mind. Some of the craziest sounding ideas might be the ones that make your company the leader in its industry.

41% said that innovation is central to being a successful business

13% think that it helps motivate employees

33% think that innovation helps them achieve higher profits

37% say that innovation contributes to every part of their business

44% said that their business is going to be more successful in the future because of innovation

33% of companies who employ 50 or less people see innovation as high priority

20% say innovation is not part of their business at all

Explore more infographics like this one on the web’s largest information design community – Visually.

1. Start spending less on your credit cardsCredit cards are expensive if you don’t pay them off every month (vs.using them as an additional sources of income – whether its a reward program with miles or cash back etc.). Many credit cards carry annual fees, and also have high APR rates. Knock down your debt and stay as focused on your wallet as you are on your diet in these early months of the year and get a head start on saving for your summer goals. There are quite a few good apps out there to help you manage your spending, and even some that help with categorizing how you spend your hard earned cash, so take control and manage your wallet more.

2. Keep up with your retirement savingsI talked earlier this month about how women need to save more for retirement than men, due to a multitude of reasons. Be sure to invest in your retirement plans frequently – and when possible, max out your contributions. Make smart investment decisions. There are many companies toll help you understand what funds work best with your retirement strategy, and allow you to get the most from your money at a level of risk that is acceptable for your life goals.

3. Tap into online resources to keep you straightIf you feel disorganized with your money, there are plenty of places to go for added help. A few good sources that I am familiar with include Yodlee’s Money Center (a free service to organize your finances in one place); LearnVest (a site for women to manage finances – that includes training programs to help give you the kick start that you need); and even Mint.com (another aggregated service that allows you to view your finances in one place). If you need more help, contact a financial professional to walk you through your options.

4. Find a Meet UpMeeting with other women in your area can bring insight, confidence and extra tips on how to manage your money the way that is right for you. Plus, you get to hang with other fun women. Consider looking for money investment groups, or mommy clubs or even clubs that help with savings (like a mommy coupon club).

And with every diet … don’t forget that every time we fall off, we just need to get back on again!

I still remember the days before the computer. But now, everyone and everything’s on the internet so I’ve adapted to the fast growing market. I’ve made myself available online to customers, promoted services and keep my clients informed.
Now, how do I keep track of all this “net” work? It’s hard to imagine where to begin when gathering data -or- just how to go about finding the legit info. ‘Small Business Tips For Reporting Web Metrics’ is exactly the answer. Even the acronyms and web lingo are explained! no stressin’ about who, what, where are the important facts and what everything means.

Who can’t use some extra pocket change? I know I always can. Many Moms I know work part time or even many I know who work full time have had hours cut by their companies to avoid doing layoffs. Regardless, with the economy nowadays there are not many people who couldn’t use some extra money. There are a lot of work-from-home jobs that Moms can do as a full time or part time job but if you already have a job you are happy with outside the home, don’t discount work-from-home jobs as a way to get some extra cash when needed. There are many work-from-home companies that offer work that can be done in your free time, late at night after the kids are in bed or on the weekends. Some of them can be done as much or as little as you would like with little to no commitment which is great when you need some extra spending money.

Sites like Odesk.com, Elance.com and Livework.com are great places to find short term assignments. You can choose assignments relative to your experience and apply to as many or as few as you would like. The first few assignments you apply for on these sites are the hardest ones to get until you get positive feedback on your profile and then the better paying assignments will be easier to get.

If you have a college degree you can work as an online essay grader for standardized testing. These companies hire readers to grade the essay portion of many standardized tests and the job is very seasonal. Some of them have testing periods several times a year followed by grading for a couple of weeks, mostly in the spring and early summer. The shifts are during a certain time frame you have to commit to but you can sign up for as few shifts as you would like. Check out Educational Testing Services and Pearson

Here’s an excellent tip to saving money after the holidays:
As a small business owner, I’m always looking for a cheaper way to get things done but hopefully that doesn’t come at the expense of looking professional or getting my company seen. That’s why posting online and making friends on social networking sites is an awesome and FREE way to get known. ‘Put your business online today at no cost with Google Places’ describes how Google can help organize your online encounters and get you seen!

Most of you Moms out there love to save money and many of you probably love trying out new products. A lot of bloggers conduct product reviews and receive free products but even if you are not a blogger you can become a product tester and receive free items in the mail. Sometimes product testers are paid as well. If you run a business you may especially be interested in signing up to be a product tester for HP. Sign up on their website here to be eligible to evaluate prototype products. If chosen, you get a new product and you are compensated.VOC-Online is a website that uses your profile to match you up with technical companies who will compensate you in some way for your time. Contract Testing and CPTC Labs also compensates for product testing.

There are many other companies out there who do not compensate you for your time but you do get free stuff and if it is something you use normally anyways, it can save you money. Check out the companies below to sign up to receive free products for evaluating.In Home Product TestingBzz AgentHouse PartyTrylogy

Also, be aware if you go looking for other product testing sites to sign up with that this is often used as a scam. Before signing up with any other companies be sure they are not trying to charge you for shipping. No legitimate product testing companies do this. They should never ask for any money from you. Also don’t fall for the product testing sites that claim they will send you some great item AFTER you complete five of their offers. You will waste a lot of time and energy signing up for trial subscriptions and products you don’t want and are often required to give a credit card number in case you forget to cancel your trial by the end of the free trial period. Legitimate product testing companies are very straightforward. They will usually ask you to fill out a brief survey when you first sign up in order to match you to products but there should be no need for credit cards and absolutely no fees involved.

After the holidays, we all need extra income. Why not start your own biz? It can be expensive but in ‘Business Ideas on a Budget’, there are a few fields where a $20 start-up is all you need:Webpreneur
Consultant
Housesitter / Petsitter
Professional Organizer
Avon Independent Sales Representative
Personal Services – Shopping & Errands
Desktop Publishing
Tutoring
eBay Seller
Secretarial Service – Typing / Transcription / Proofreading
Mind you they won’t generate a full-time income for a few months (with a start-up of only $20) but it’s a great side income, for students or if you’re unemployed looking for legitimate work now! This article describes exactly what you need to purchase and how to use your twenty bucks.

Of course, if your boss asks or even demands (excluding harassment) you to complete a task, you’re going to do it. Without a doubt, everyone who’s had to work under someone else registers that it’s imperative to longevity of your job. If your superiors at work insist on using their position to make you listen, then is this really in the best interest for your boss’s job? The article, ‘How to Influence without Positional Authority and Improve Employee Morale Using 3 Simple Strategies’ , teaches you …
..How to:
– Build a relationship
– Honor the Law of Reciprocation
..When it is ok to:
– Participate in healthy conflict
..all without using positional authority to influence a situation. You can apply this to your business contacts, employees and even peers! After applying what I read, I learnt most that your costumer relations greatly improve ^_^

I read this interview that really opened up the way I see accounting for my small business. In ‘Small Business Accounting Tips’, Andrew J. Holden asks the right questions to accountant, Michael Williamson, about what to watch out for and valuable advice. Which made me realize that there’s more importance in recording transactions accurately and that there’s more resources than I thought to help me do the accounting right! Your local bank (or where ever you get your taxes done) can provide you with FREE consulting so you’re guided in what the is necessary of your biz and what steps you need take, once you’ve assessed your company’s need.

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About Me

Irené Waldman worked 11 years for Visa, before working at Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines, part of the world’s leading alcohol beverage company and is now a marketing consultant working with high profile financial services companies, in addition to collaboration with marketing companies focused on loyalty.